Consciousness, a perennial subject of fascination, has witnessed a surge in scientific exploration over recent decades. A primary objective in the science of consciousness is elucidating the neural mechanisms governing conscious states and devising methodologies for diagnosing and recovering impaired consciousness (e.g., in the disorders of consciousness). SFIM actively contributes to this scientific realm through the utilization of cutting-edge computational and neuroimaging tools, including high-field fMRI, MEG, and pupillometry, to investigate two pivotal themes in the study of consciousness.

1. Neural Mechanisms of Consciousness

The central challenge in understanding consciousness lies in unraveling how neural processes give rise to subjective states of conscious experience. Additionally, there is long-standing interest in discerning how diverse sources of content in conscious experiences (such as vision versus audition, or sight versus imagery) share common neural networks. Several projects within SFIM employ afterimages as a perceptual model to delve into these inquiries and explore the neural underpinnings of conscious experience.

2. Predicting Conscious Content and State

Conscious states exhibit spontaneous fluctuations influenced by neurophysiological dynamics. The ability to predict conscious states from physiological indicators holds broad significance for both experimental and clinical domains. Two specific projects in SFIM employ electrophysiology and real time pupillometry methods to forecast states of arousal/vigilance linked with conscious states (Samika, Sharif, and colleagues). Additionally, predicting the content of consciousness (i.e., the subjects of conscious perception) is crucial for accounting for variability in neural signals. Javier and colleagues are leading projects exploring how the content of conscious perception during resting-state fMRI can impact recorded activity on an individual subject basis. Finally, another project lead by Sharif, Tori, and colleagues explores how eye metrics can be used to predict conscious perception in cortical blindness.

Publications:

Published:
2024
Title:
Visual imagery vividness correlates with afterimage brightness and sharpness
Publication:
Neuroscience of Consciousness
Data
 Code
Published:
2024
Title:
Cross-species real time detection of trends in pupil size fluctuation
Publication:
BioRxiv
Data
 Code
Published:
2023
Title:
Brain network dynamics in transitions of consciousness reorganize according to task engagement
Publication:
BioRxiv

Presentations:

Presented on:
July 2024
Title:
The central neural mechanisms of afterimage perception: A whole brain and cortical layer fMRI study
Conference/Event:
2024: Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness
File:
Kronemer_ASSC_27_Talk_Presentation.pdf
Presented on:
July 2024
Title:
Light-independent pupillary fluctuations predict sensory perceptual sensitivity, MEG, and whole brain fMRI signals
Conference/Event:
2024: Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness
File:
ASSC_Presentation_Gobo.pdf
Presented on:
June 2024
Title:
Whole brain and primary visual cortex layer fMRI signatures of afterimage perception
Conference/Event:
2024: Organization for Human Brain Mapping
File:
Kronemer_et_al_OHBM_Afterimage_Poster.pdf
Presented on:
June 2024
Title:
Phase of pupillary unrest corresponds with perceptual sensitivity, MEG, and whole brain fMRI signals
Conference/Event:
2024: Organization for Human Brain Mapping
File:
Gobo_et_al_OHBM_2024.pdf
Presented on:
November 2023
Title:
Pupil size and phase as a real-time marker of perceptual sensitivity and whole brain activity
Conference/Event:
2023: Society For Neuroscience
File:
Gobo_et_al_SFN_2023.pdf
Presented on:
November 2023
Title:
Perceptually-matched images and afterimages share whole brain fMRI dynamics
Conference/Event:
2023: Society For Neuroscience
File:
Kronemer_et_al_SfN_Poster_2023.pdf
Presented on:
July 2023
Title:
The neural mechanisms of interceptive conscious perception: A 7T fMRI study of afterimages
Conference/Event:
2023: Organization for Human Brain Mapping
File:
Kronemer_et_al_OHBM2023_Afterimage_Poster_sm.pdf
Presented on:
July 2023
Title:
Real time pupil size detection as a live marker of arousal state and perceptual sensitivity
Conference/Event:
2023: Organization for Human Brain Mapping
File:
Gobo_et_al_OHBM2023_Real_Time_Poster_2023.pdf
Presented on:
July 2023
Title:
Decreased alertness changes brain network dynamics in passive movie-viewing
Conference/Event:
2023: Organization for Human Brain Mapping
File:
Samika Kumar OHBM 2023_sm.pdf
Presented on:
November 2022
Title:
The neural mechanisms of afterimages: A model of illusory conscious perception
Conference/Event:
2022: Society For Neuroscience
File:
Holness_et_al_SfN_2022_sm.pdf